Horn Maker

May your horn sound the charge but never the retreat.

Despite the musical limitations of the horn, few instruments held such importance in the ancient world. Because of their arresting tone, horns served a vital function in signalling in battles, hunts, assemblies or rituals, and use in these situations conferred a level of prestige upon the object itself. Although the earliest horns were simple conch shells or hollowed-out animal horns, the societal importance of the instrument led to a gradual increase in the ostentatiousness of their design. A prime example of this is the carnyx, a tall metal instrument with a head in the shape of bellowing animal. This was designed to be heard above the clash of battle and featured heavily in Roman representations of barbarians.